What Is A Credit Freeze. Learn When And How To Do It
Unlocking The Power Of Credit Freezes: Protect Your Identity And Manage Your Financial Future Effectively
Earn 120,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $15,000 in qualifying purchases on the Card within your first 3 months of Card Membership.
1.5X Membership Rewards® points on eligible purchases at U.S. construction material & hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers and software & cloud system providers, and shipping providers, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more everywhere else, on up to $2 million of these purchases per calendar year.
5X Membership Rewards® points on flights and prepaid hotels when you book at AmexTravel.com.
Earn a $100 statement credit after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months of account opening
3X ThankYou® Points for every $1 spent at gas stations.
Earn a $25 statement credit after signing up for automatic payments within the first three months of opening your account. With automatic payments, just pick a date and dollar amount to make sure your Credit Card gets paid on time.
5% cash back on Lyft rides through March 31, 2025
2 x Cash Back with Cashback Match, get an unlimited dollar-for-dollar match of all the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year, automatically
5% Cashback Bonus at Target
2 x Cash Back with Cashback Match, get an unlimited dollar-for-dollar match of all the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year, automatically
2 x Cash Back with Cashback Match, get an unlimited dollar-for-dollar match of all the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year, automatically
5% Cashback Bonus at Target
Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus when you spend $500 in purchases in the first 3 months.
Earn 20,000 bonus points when you spend $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months – that’s a $200 cash redemption value
3X points across key categories, including dining at restaurants, gas stations, electric vehicle charging stations, popular streaming services, and travel. Get rewarded for your everyday spending, from dining in, take-out, catering, and delivery to gas, streaming your favorite content, and travel expenses like airfare, hotels, car rentals, and cruises.
Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of your Citi Double Cash® card account opening.
Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.
5% cash back on your top eligible spend category each billing cycle up to $500 spent.
Earn 75,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening, redeemable for $750 in gift cards or travel rewards on thankyou.com
3X ThankYou® Points per $1 at Restaurants
3X ThankYou® Points per $1 at Supermarkets
3X ThankYou® Points per $1 on Gas Stations and EV Charging Stations
10X ThankYou® Points per $1 spent on Attractions booked through CitiTravel.com
Prime members, get a $200 Amazon Gift Card instantly loaded into your Amazon account's Gift Card Balance upon approval of your credit card application.
2% back at gas stations
5% back at Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh with an eligible Prime membership
2% back at restaurants
5% back on Chase Travel purchases with an eligible Prime membership
Earn 50,000 Bonus Miles after spending $2,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
2X miles for every dollar spent on eligible purchases made directly with Delta
2X miles at U.S. supermarkets
2X miles at restaurants
Earn 60,000 Bonus Miles after spending $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
2X miles on every eligible dollar spent on purchases made directly with Delta
2X miles on every eligible dollar spent on purchases at U.S. shipping providers
Earn 70,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $10,000 on eligible purchases with your Card in the first 3 months of Card Membership
3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked on amextravel.com using your Business Gold Card.
4X Membership Rewards® points on the 2 categories where your business spends the most in each billing cycle: Monthly wireless telephone service charges made directly from a wireless telephone service provider in the U.S.. Only the top 2 categories from this list each billing cycle will count towards the $150,000 cap.
Earn 80,000 Bonus Miles after spending $10,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
1.5X miles on U.S. shipping and on every dollar spent on office supply store purchases
3X miles on every dollar spent on eligible purchases made directly with Delta
60,000 Bonus Miles After You Spend $4,000 On Purchases In The First 3 Months From Account Opening + 500 Premier Qualifying Points (PQP)
60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
10X total points on hotels when you purchase travel through Chase after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually
3X points on dining at restaurants, including eligible delivery services, takeout, and dining out
140,000 Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
5X total points on travel
5X total points at gas stations
5X total points on dining
Earn up to 120,000 points - earn 80,000 points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening and an additional 40,000 points when you spend $15,000 in 9 months.
2X points per $1 spent on internet, cable, and phone services
2X points per $1 spent on local transit and commuting, including rideshare services
2X points per $1 spent on social media and search engine advertising
If your trip is canceled or cut short by sickness, severe weather and other covered situations, you can be reimbursed up to $10,000 per person and $20,000 per trip for your pre-paid, non-refundable travel expenses, including passenger fares, tours, and hotels.
Get 25% more value when redeemed for travel. For example 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Travel℠. Plus, Chase Travel℠ rewards points do not expire as long as the account is open.
We help safeguard your credit card purchases using sophisticated fraud monitoring. We monitor for fraud 24/7 and can text, email or call you if there are unusual purchases on your credit card.
View your FICO® Score anytime, with no impact to your score. It's updated monthly and easy to find on the Citi Mobile® App and Citi® Online. See the key factors affecting your score and more.
Earn up to $240 back toward your qualifying AT&T wireless bills every year - it pays to be an AT&T wireless customer. Every billing cycle, earn $20 back as a statement credit after you spend $1000 on purchases or $10 back as a statement credit after you spend $500-$999.99 on your AT&T Points Plus? Card.
Means you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
You can be reimbursed up to $1,500 per person and $6,000 per trip for your pre-paid, non-refundable passenger fares, if your trip is canceled or cut short by sickness, severe weather and other covered situations.
Covers your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft up to $500 per claim and $50,000 per account.
Extends the time period of the U.S. manufacturer's warranty by an additional year, on eligible warranties of three years or less.
Get a complimentary 3 months of DashPass, DoorDash's membership that provides unlimited deliveries with $0 delivery fee and reduced service fees on eligible orders on DoorDash and Caviar. After that, you are automatically enrolled in DashPass at 50% off for the next 9 months. Activate by December 31, 2024.
Earn 5% cash back on Lyft rides through March 31, 2025. That's 3.5% cash back in addition to the 1.5% cash back you already earn.
Let Citi Entertainment bring the fun to you. Through the Citi Entertainment program you can enjoy access to purchase pre-sale tickets for music, sports, culinary experiences and more — from virtually anywhere.
Travel benefits your business needs including $100,000 in travel accident insurance. Additional services include auto rental insurance, emergency ticket replacement, lost-luggage assistance and legal and medical referrals when you're away from home.
Travel benefits your business needs including $100,000 in travel accident insurance. Additional services include auto rental insurance, emergency ticket replacement, lost-luggage assistance and legal and medical referrals when you’re away from home.
Travel benefits your business needs including $1,000,000 in travel accident insurance. Additional services include auto rental insurance, emergency ticket replacement, lost-luggage assistance and legal and medical referrals when you're away from home.
Enjoy 20% back on Alaska Airlines inflight purchases when you pay with your new card.
Priority Boarding for any cardholder when paying for the flight with an Alaska Airlines Business card.
Free checked bag for any cardholder and up to 6 guests on the same reservation when you pay for your flight with your card - that's a savings of $60 per person roundtrip!
Earn another Alaska's Famous Companion Fare™ ($99 fare plus taxes and fees from $23) each account anniversary after spending $6,000 or more on purchases within the prior anniversary year.
Enjoy 20% back on Alaska Airlines inflight purchases when you pay with your new card.
Free checked bag for any cardholder who purchases airfare with their card, and up to 6 additional guests traveling on the same reservation.
You'll enjoy priority boarding when you pay for your flight with your card, so you can get to your seat quicker.
Get a $99 Companion Fare (plus taxes and fees from $23) each account anniversary after you spend $6,000 or more in purchases within the prior anniversary year.
Travel services your business needs including $1 million in travel accident insurance, lost luggage reimbursement, trip cancellation coverage, and trip delay reimbursement.
Get a head-start on your next adventure, compliments of your Card. After you spend $10,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, you can receive a $200 Delta Flight Credit to use toward future travel.
Enjoy a $200 Delta Flight Credit after spending $10,000 in a calendar year with your Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card, redeemable for future Delta flight bookings.
Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees, such as checked bags and in-flight refreshments, are charged by the airline to your Business Platinum Card Account.American Express relies on accurate airline transaction data to identify incidental fee purchases. If you do not see a credit for a qualifying incidental purchase on your eligible Card after 8 weeks, simply call the number on the back of your Card. See terms & conditions for more details.
Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Card or any of the Additional Cards on your Platinum Card account.
Work out at home with Equinox+ and get up to $120 back annually. Use your Blue Cash Preferred® Card to pay for a subscription1 to Equinox+ at equinoxplus.com and receive $10 in monthly statement credits.
Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar and select Shake Shack locations. Effective September 26, 2024, Milk Bar and Shake Shack will no longer be participating partners for the $120 Dining Credit and 'Enrollment required' for select benefits
Earn a $100 United travel credit after 7 United flight purchases of $100 or more within each card anniversary year.
Get up to $100 back per year as a statement credit after using your Delta Gold Card to book prepaid hotels or vacation rentals through Delta Stays on delta.com/stays.
If your trip is canceled or cut short by sickness, severe weather and other covered situations, you can be reimbursed up to $5,000 per person and $10,000 per trip for your pre-paid, non-refundable travel expenses, including passenger fares, tours, and hotels.
If your trip is canceled or cut short by sickness, severe weather and other covered situations, you can be reimbursed up to $5,000 per person and $10,000 per trip for your pre-paid, non-refundable travel expenses, including passenger fares, tours, and hotels.
You can be reimbursed up to $1,500 per person and $6,000 per trip for your pre-paid, non-refundable passenger fares, if your trip is canceled or cut short by sickness, severe weather and other covered situations.
If your trip is canceled or cut short by sickness, severe weather and other covered situations, you can be reimbursed up to $1,500 per person and $6,000 per trip for your pre-paid, non-refundable travel expenses, including passenger fares, tours, and hotels.
This exceptional group of over 1,000 properties includes many of the world's most exquisite hotels, resorts, lodges and spas, each of which extend you complimentary Cardmember benefits with every stay. Make a reservation through the program using your Chase card to receive the following benefits including daily breakfast for two, a special benefit unique to each property, such as a dining or spa credit, complimentary Wi-Fi, a room upgrade, if available, and early check-in and late checkout, if available. Please visit for more information.
This exceptional group of over 1,000 properties includes many of the world's most exquisite hotels, resorts, lodges and spas, each of which extend you complimentary Cardmember benefits with every stay. Make a reservation through the program using your Chase card to receive the following benefits including daily breakfast for two, a special benefit unique to each property, such as a dining or spa credit, complimentary Wi-Fi, a room upgrade, if available, and early check-in and late checkout, if available. Please visit for more information.
Take advantage of cardmember perks such as a room upgrade and daily breakfast at over 1,000 properties when you book with The Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection.
Delight your senses when you book The Hotel Collection with American Express Travel. Get a $100 experience credit for qualifying activities like dining or spa treatments. Minimum 2-night stay required to be eligible for the benefit. Experience credits vary by property.
Your new camera was stolen. You knocked over your new lamp moving your couch. Sometimes the unexpected happens. But when you use your Eligible Card for Covered Purchases, it's nice to know Membership can help protect your Covered Purchases from accidental damage or theft for up to 90 days from the Covered Purchase date. Please read important exclusions and restrictions.
Sometimes your favorite new purchase gets stolen, accidentally damaged, or lost. But when you use your Eligible Card for Covered Purchases, your Membership can help protect them for up to 90 days from the Covered Purchase date.
As a Card Member, your Covered Purchase can be covered for up to 90 days from the Covered Purchase date when you charge the Covered Purchased item with your Eligible Card account. Please read important exclusions and restrictions.
When an American Express Card Member charges a Covered Purchase with their Eligible Card, Purchase Protection can help protect their Covered Purchases for up to 90 days from the Covered Purchase date if it is stolen or accidentally damaged. The coverage is limited up to $1,000 per occurrence, up to $50,000 per Card Member account per calendar year.
Sometimes your favorite new purchase gets stolen, accidentally damaged, or lost. But when you use your Eligible Card for Covered Purchases, your Membership can help protect them for up to 90 days from the Covered Purchase date. Please read important exclusions and restrictions.Up to $10,000 per occurrence, $50,000 per calendar year.
Sometimes your favorite new purchase gets stolen or accidentally damaged. But when you use your Eligible Card for Covered Purchases, your Membership can help protect them for up to 90 days from the Covered Purchase date, subject to the Coverage Limits. Up to $1,000 per occurrence, $50,000 per calendar year.
Covers your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft up to $500 per claim and $50,000 per account.
Covers your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per year.
Covers your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft up to $500 per claim and $50,000 per account.
Covers your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account.
Covers your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account.
Covers your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft up to $500 per claim and $50,000 per account.
If you or an immediate family member check or carry on luggage that is damaged or lost by the carrier, you're covered up to $3,000 per passenger.
If you or an immediate family member check or carry on luggage that is damaged or lost by the carrier, you're covered up to $3,000 per passenger.
If you or an immediate family member check or carry on luggage that is damaged or lost by the carrier, you're covered up to $3,000 per passenger.
If you or an immediate family member check or carry on luggage that is damaged or lost by the carrier, you're covered up to $3,000 per passenger.
25% back on inflight purchases.
25% back on inflight purchases.
25% back on inflight purchases.
As an IHG One Rewards credit cardmember, you are upgraded to IHG One Rewards Silver Elite status for as long as you remain a Traveler cardmember, and as long as your IHG One Rewards membership remains in good standing.
The ID Theft Protection program offered by Mastercard helps eliminate the worry of identity theft by monitoring the information you choose to protect and alerting you if suspicious activity is found. It takes just a few minutes to enroll for free, and as soon as you do, your monitoring begins. Visit mastercardidps.idprotectiononline.com to learn more
Earn IHG One Rewards Gold Elite Status after you spend $20,000 on purchases each calendar year.
Credit of up to $100 ($120 starting 10/1/24) every 4 years as reimbursement for the application fee charged to your card.
Credit of up to $100 ($120 starting 10/1/24) every 4 years as reimbursement for the application fee charged to your card.
Earn one Free Night Reward from Hilton Honors after spending $15,000 on purchases on your Card in a calendar year.
Cardmembers and travel companions (up to eight) traveling on the same reservation will all enjoy free first checked bags (up to 50lb) when travel originates on an Air Canada flight.
The primary Cardmember and one companion traveling on the same reservation will each receive their first standard checked bag free (up to $35 value, each way, per person) on United-operated flights when the primary Cardmember includes their United MileagePlus® number in their reservation and purchases their tickets from United with their card. For complete details, please visit .
The primary Cardmember and one companion traveling on the same reservation will each receive their first standard checked bag free (up to $35 value, each way, per person) on United-operated flights when the primary Cardmember includes their United MileagePlus® number in their reservation and purchases their tickets from United with their card. For complete details, please visit .
Enjoy even more perks as a Hilton Honors Gold member, like an 80% Bonus on Base Points you earn on every stay, space-available room upgrades at select properties, and more.
Enjoy complimentary Hilton Honors Gold status with your Hilton Honors Surpass® Card. Plus, spend $40,000 on eligible purchases on your Card in a calendar year and you can earn Hilton Honors Diamond status through the end of the next calendar year.
With complimentary access into Delta Sky Club®, you can relax before your Delta flight or between connections. You'll also receive four Delta Sky Club One-Time Guest Passes each year.
Enter Delta Sky Club® at no cost and bring up to two guests or immediate family at a rate of $50 per person per visit. Effective 2/1/25, Reserve Card Members will receive 15 Visits per year to the Delta Sky Club; to earn an unlimited number of Visits each year starting on 2/1/25, the total eligible purchases on the Card must equal $75,000 or more between 1/1/24 and 12/31/24, and each calendar year thereafter.
Getting into your Rental Vehicle can be the start of a great vacation. When you use your Eligible Card to reserve and pay for the Entire Rental and decline the collision damage waiver at the rental Company counter, you can be covered for Damage to or Theft of a Rental Vehicle in a Covered Territory. Please read important exclusions and restrictions. Not all vehicle types or rentals are covered. Coverage is not available for vehicles rented in Australia, Italy, and New Zealand. This product provides secondary coverage and does not include liability coverage.
When you use your Eligible Card to reserve and pay for the Entire Rental and decline the collision damage waiver (CDW) at the Rental Company counter, You can be covered for Damage to or Theft of a Rental Vehicle in a Covered Territory. Please read important exclusions and restrictions. Not all vehicle types or rentals are covered. Coverage is not available for vehicles rented in Australia, Italy, and New Zealand. This product provides secondary coverage and does not include liability coverage.
Getting into your Rental Vehicle can be the start of a great vacation. When you use your Eligible Card to reserve and pay for the Entire Rental and decline the collision damage waiver (CDW) at the rental Company counter, you can be covered for Damage to or Theft of a Rental Vehicle in a Covered Territory. Please read important exclusions and restrictions. Not all vehicle types or rentals are covered. Coverage is not available for vehicles rented in Australia, Italy, and New Zealand. This product provides secondary coverage and does not include liability coverage.
Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance can provide coverage up to $50,000 for theft of or damage to most rental vehicles when you use your eligible Card to reserve and pay for the entire eligible vehicle rental and decline the collision damage waiver or similar option offered by the Commercial Car Rental Company. This product provides secondary coverage and does not include liability coverage. Not all vehicle types or rentals are covered. Geographic restrictions apply. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
Getting into your Rental Vehicle can be the start of a great vacation. When you use your Eligible Card to reserve and pay for the Entire Rental and decline the collision damage waiver at the rental Company counter, you can be covered for Damage to or Theft of a Rental Vehicle in a Covered Territory. Please read important exclusions and restrictions. Not all vehicle types or rentals are covered. Coverage is not available for vehicles rented in Australia, Italy, and New Zealand. This product provides secondary coverage and does not include liability coverage.
Getting into your Rental Vehicle can be the start of a great vacation. When you use your Eligible Card to reserve and pay for the Entire Rental and decline the collision damage waiver at the rental Company counter, you can be covered for Damage to or Theft of a Rental Vehicle in a Covered Territory. Please read important exclusions and restrictions. Not all vehicle types or rentals are covered. Coverage is not available for vehicles rented in Australia, Italy, and New Zealand. This product provides secondary coverage and does not include liability coverage.
As a Card Member, you can be covered for Damage to or Theft of a Rental Vehicle in a Covered Territory when you use your Eligible Card to reserve and pay for the Entire Rental and decline the collision damage waiver (CDW) at the Rental Company counter. Please read important exclusions and restrictions. Not all vehicle types or rentals are covered. Coverage is not available for vehicles rented in Australia, Italy, and New Zealand. This product provides secondary coverage and does not include liability coverage.
Getting into your Rental Vehicle can be the start of a great vacation. When you use your Eligible Card to reserve and pay for the Entire Rental and decline the collision damage waiver at the rental Company counter, you can be covered for Damage to or Theft of a Rental Vehicle in a Covered Territory. Please read important exclusions and restrictions. Not all vehicle types or rentals are covered. Coverage is not available for vehicles rented in Australia, Italy, and New Zealand. This product provides secondary coverage and does not include liability coverage.
Your Platinum Card® is your key to specially curated By Invitation Only® experiences. We customize once-in-a-lifetime events exclusively for our Platinum and Centurion Card Members, including Additional Centurion Cards. RSVP is required.
Platinum travel counselors specialize in providing custom itineraries and tailored recommendations to help you make the most of your travels.
Build your team, grow your business. Enroll and get up to $360 in statement credits per year (up to $90 back per quarter) for purchases with Indeed on the Business Platinum Card.
Travel more comfortably knowing you can be covered for lost, damaged, or stolen Baggage when you purchase the Entire Fare for a Common Carrier Vehicle ticket (e.g. plane, train, ship, or bus) on an Eligible Card. Coverage can be provided for up to $2,000 for checked Baggage and up to a combined maximum of $3,000 for checked and carry-on Baggage, in excess of coverage provided by the Common Carrier. The coverage is also subject to a $3,000 aggregate limit per Covered Trip. For New York State residents, there is a $2,000 per bag/suitcase limit for each Covered Person with a $10,000 aggregate maximum for all Covered Persons per Covered Trip.
Travel more comfortably knowing you can be covered for lost, damaged, or stolen Baggage when you purchase the Entire Fare for a Common Carrier Vehicle ticket (e.g. plane, train, ship, or bus) on an Eligible Card. Coverage can be provided for up to a combined maximum of $3,000 for checked and carry-on Baggage, which includes up to $2,000 for checked Baggage and up to $1,000 for any High Risk Items such as jewelry and electronics, in excess of coverage provided by the Common Carrier. The coverage is also subject to a $3,000 aggregate limit per Covered Trip. For New York State residents, there is a $2,000 per bag/suitcase limit for each Covered Person with a $10,000 aggregate maximum for all Covered Persons per Covered Trip. Please read important exclusions and restrictions.
Travel more comfortably knowing you can be covered for lost, damaged, or stolen Baggage when you purchase the Entire Fare for a Common Carrier Vehicle ticket (e.g. plane, train, ship, or bus) on an Eligible Card. Coverage can be provided for up to $1,250 for carry-on Baggage and up to $500 for checked Baggage. For New York State residents, there is a $10,000 aggregate maximum limit for all Covered Persons per Covered Trip. Please read important exclusions and restrictions.
Travel more comfortably knowing you can be covered for lost, damaged, or stolen Baggage when you purchase the Entire Fare for a Common Carrier Vehicle ticket (e.g. plane, train, ship, or bus) on an Eligible Card. Coverage can be provided for up to $1,250 for carry-on Baggage and up to $500 for checked Baggage, in excess of coverage provided by the Common Carrier.
Travel more comfortably knowing you can be covered for lost, damaged, or stolen Baggage when you purchase the Entire Fare for a Common Carrier Vehicle ticket (e.g. plane, train, ship, or bus) on an Eligible Card. Coverage can be provided for up to $1,250 for carry-on Baggage and up to $500 for checked Baggage, in excess of coverage provided by the Common Carrier. For New York State residents, there is a $10,000 aggregate maximum limit for all Covered Persons per Covered Trip.
When you use your Rapid Rewards Business Credit Card to transfer points to another Rapid Rewards Member, fees associated with the transfer will be reimbursed – up to $500 in statement credits per anniversary year.
Unlocking The Power Of Credit Freezes: Protect Your Identity And Manage Your Financial Future Effectively
song.url
In May 2018, Congress signed the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act. Thanks to the Act, you can now freeze and unfreeze your credit report for free, nationwide.
But just because something is free doesn’t mean you should do it. In this post, we will discuss everything you may want to know about credit freezes. So, before you put your credit on ice, here is what you need to know.
Identity theft is on the rise. The FTC estimates that over 9 million identities are stolen each year!
In order for thieves to open credit cards or any other tradeline under your name, the lenders will need to be able to pull one or all of your credit reports. Freezing your credit report basically locks out any thief from applying for any tradelines under your name.
Once your report is frozen, no one is able to view it until you unfreeze it. Every time you want to apply for credit, mortgage, and even sometimes just to get an insurance quote, you will need to unfreeze your credit reports. You can also give a bank access to your credit report by generating a temporary code.
{image-1}
The law requires that all three credit bureaus must freeze your credit report for free within 24 hours from when you submit a request online or by phone.
Here is where you can request to freeze your credit with the three credit bureaus:
Experian
Experian also has an option to easily lock your credit report but you must have an Experian premium membership in order to do so. You can often get a 7-day free trial for the Premium membership. Experian lock is the easiest way to freeze your credit report. It takes a second to literally click on the lock button and lock your report, and same with unlocking it. You can sign up here.
Equifax
TransUnion
If you are freezing your credit report online or by phone, you need your:
When freezing by mail, you need to send the following:
When you set up the credit freeze, you will be asked to set up a security pin. You can, at any time, unfreeze your credit for a short period of time, or for good, by submitting a request online or by phone (use the above contact information) with the security pin or by answering other security questions.
The credit bureaus must lift the credit freeze within an hour of you submitting a request to lift the credit freeze.
Many people have been reporting that they are having issues lifting security freezes online from their Experian credit report. If that’s the case, then you will need to do it by phone (this is not fun!).
Yes! You can freeze a minor or an incapacitated consumer’s credit report. The process for this is different between the credit bureaus, so follow the steps found on their websites.
Ice-cold credit may be a big headache if you’re the type of person, like me, who uses your credit very often. It may also affect your chances of receiving pre-qualified credit card offers (I like them).
If you decide not to freeze your credit report, then at least monitor it. I wrote a great post on the best websites where you can monitor your credit for free.
Here is where you can order copies of your bank screening reports:
Innovis
NCTUE
ChexSystems
Get the latest credit card insights, finance hacks, and exclusive offers. Sign up and shape your financial future now!
0 Comments